Good morning/evening readers! Look who’s back in town! As for my unexplained absence of 2 months? I had some of the 3 busiest weeks of my life after my last post (so much for the well-deserved ‘rest’ I was promised after exams), but it was still great. I thought I would fill you guys in on a bit 🙂

As you guys know, I finished my exams on the 12th of June, and I can’t even describe how I felt. I remember being in the exam and seeing one minute left on the clock, and forcing myself to go back to checking. When the invigilator told us to put our pens down, that was the first time in my whole exam period where I didn’t worry about how the exam went; I was just too excited to care. Excited about the start of the holidays, and excited to go home and (metaphorically) burn all my books. That moment was one I had been waiting for, for at least a year and a half. I know it sounds dramatic, but when you want to do as well as I do, I tried to pour my heart and soul into studying. The pressure, on any young person doing exams, is immense and I wanted to rise up to my personal high expectations, perhaps making it worse for myself. So it’s kind of a big moment when all that weight was relieved from my shoulders.

I celebrated with my close group of friends, with all but one of us having finished that trek. We went to a diner in London which, it turns out, I’d been to before when I was about 8! What a coincidence! It was great just to spend some quality time together as a group, and it was the first time in a long while without the ever-impending doom of exams looming over our heads.

The ‘rest’ week that followed actually consisted of the complete opposite. On the Monday I went shopping with my mum and bought some clothes, sunglasses and a backpack for my birthday/summer from Urban Outfitters. I haven’t taken off the sunglasses almost all summer (despite nearly leaving them on a train a couple of days ago), so I think it’s fair to say I am pretty in love with them. But that week I also had 3 rehearsals, breaking up my free time, so making it all the more busy.

I was in an adaptation of Lorca’s ‘Blood Wedding’, which is Spanish, and we were taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (I just arrived home from that, so my post from that will come shortly.) I was only in the chorus as my year was the youngest able to join, but because we were on stage the whole time, we had to go to every rehearsal. As it was going public and the possibility of it being reviewed was out there, the teachers took it very seriously. To be honest though, I found it all very tedious towards the end, due to the run-throughs and what-not. I know they were 100% crucial and I appreciate that, especially considering we had 2 performances 2 weeks later, but it didn’t really change the fact that it was very boring.

On the 18th of June, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to do some work shadowing with the crime editor of the Times. I have wanted to be a journalist for about 4 years now, so this was an incredible day for me to be able to gain an insight into what the job actually entails. I mean, I’m sure everyone has their own idea of what their dream job would be like, but for me to actually experience the conferences and meetings etc, it meant I could stop imagining. Bonus, it did not dissuade me from my ambitions in the slightest.

A day later, on the 19th of June, was my 16th birthday. I feel extremely old now, like I am somehow supposed to act like an adult as the clock strikes midnight. I know that 16 doesn’t equal adult, but the expectations are so much higher of you now (especially from parents). Say it out loud. Doesn’t saying “you’re 16 now” sound so much older than 15? It does to me.

When I woke up, my parents had put up photos of me growing up on my stairs, obviously bringing back a lot of memories. It was a brilliant idea though and a huge surprise, plus incredibly touching, and I would definitely recommend for any readers thinking of an inexpensive way to surprise someone for their birthday. I had planned an outfit the day before, but my parents had got me a beautiful dress (don’t worry it was pretty casual) so I decided to wear that, along with my new sunglasses and backpack. As we had just finished exams, my school was treating us with a trip to Thorpe Park, and it just so happened to be on my birthday. Best birthday ever right?? (Well, it’s either that or actual school, so I’ll take Thorpe park any day.)

Nevertheless, it was an amazing day and I even got a little sunburnt (oops) it was so hot. One thing only tarred it slightly, and that was a ride called the Hammer. My friend persuaded me to go on it, and there was no queue so we had to go straight on without watching it. Stupid, believe me, I know. It was the kind of ride that literally just swings round and round in circles. It wasn’t even very fast which made it all the worse, because when you fell forward, I thought my head was going to explode with all the blood flowing to my brain. Long story short, I wouldn’t get on that ride again for anything.

I have to say it was one of the busiest birthdays I’ve ever experienced, as after we got back to school (an hour and a half late, thanks coach company), I had to rush home to get ready and drive to my friend’s house, where we were hosting our joint party in about an hour turn around. But despite the high levels of stress leading up to it, it was definitely worth it. It was a great night. Eventful to say the least, but a lot of fun. (Note: if you are not re-doing the house like my friend was, maybe don’t have a UV party. It gets extremely messy.) 🙂

So here’s chapter one of my summer readers. Ironic how I only have 3 days before school goes back, but I will definitely be more present from now on. Sorry again about that huge gap. I hope everyone had an awesome and relaxing holiday whatever you did, and enjoy the last day of August!